Well, it has been sent off to the publisher. Dante’s Angel, that is. Here’s hoping they love it and it will be a huge success.

Gambler’s Folly is a pleasure center in the galaxy. Whatever you want, you can find there, whether it’s gambling, beaches, mountains. Exciting times or relaxing times, you can find it on Gambler’s Folly.

But like anyplace else, there is a darker underside to this pleasure paradise–the syndicate. Many of the syndicate members function on the wrong side of the law, bringing in drugs and other illegal substances and practices.

One of the most dangerous players is Damiano Leone, owner of the Stella d’Oro and other enterprises on Gambler’s Folly. Only he isn’t quite what he seems. Or perhaps he’s even more. His wife and mate he won from her husband on one hand of cards. The man had run up a debt of over a million credits. This was his way out. If he won, he kept his wife, his debts were cleared, and he would leave on the next shuttle out.

But if he lost–which he did–though his debts were still cleared, his wife, Karianna, became the possession of Damiano Leone.

Have you read Book 1, Gambler’s Folly? If not, head on over to Amazon or to Bookstrand and get your copy. Book 2 will be out later this summer.

“So, how were you planning to catch fish for dinner?” Viviane asked. “I don’t see any fishing gear anywhere, except for a bucket.”

“I was planning to coax them over to the bank and pick them out of the water,” he told her. Normally he wouldn’t use his talents for something this simple, but he thought it would be a good lesson for her at this stage of her training. Besides, with the need to bring everything in with them, he’d forgotten to bring any fishing tackle along.

“You’re kidding, aren’t you?” she asked, not sure what to believe.

“What kind of fish do you want for dinner,” he asked, ignoring the question. “Up here there are silverback, gold speck, rainbows, and cat’s eyes.”

Looking at him like she was humoring a lunatic, she said, “Well, since I have a choice, I really like gold speck.”

“Gold speck it is then. I think I’ll get a couple rainbows to go along with them.”

He took off his shoes and socks, rolled up his trousers, and stepped into the shallow water at the edge of the stream. Standing quite still, he mentally reached out gently to find the fish he wanted, and then pulled them toward his location by the bank. One by one he picked them up and put them in the bucket of water, three gold speck and two rainbows.

Majestic purple mountains are framed by dark evergreens against a crisp blue sky. Waterfalls crash down over dark slate and water the emerald green banks of streams during summer’s warmth.

Biting winds and blinding snow storms keep everyone indoors by the fires in winter, waiting and hoping for spring.

Psychically talented rulers keep the peace among the clans. Others with wild Talents use them as any craftsman would his tools. Builders, healers, and others too numerous to name use their Talents in everyday trades.

And where is all this, you ask?

On a world called Esperance. Colonized and then abandoned by Earth, this world managed to survive, due to those with these strange abilities, on this distant highland world.

Come join me on Esperance. Meet Jareth and Viviane, First Lord and Lady of Clan Brannach. And don’t forget First Lord Herrick and First Lady Sarah, Viviane’s parents.

And then there are James and Morgan, just simple folks with some Talents of their own.

Not to mention all the others with little abilities here and there, using their Talents as tools for their trades.

Travel with me to Esperance, this distant highland world–a world forged by the will of those Talented individuals who could enforce a rule of law after the Time of Chaos.

With any luck, the book will be released later in the week. I’ll keep you posted on that.

Anyway, thanks so much to all my readers out there. Hope you enjoy this latest story from Esperance!

Morgan is resigned to living alone after her abusive father and recent attempted rape in Clan Brannach. However, she hadn’t counted on James Ferguson’s green eyes, devil-may-care attitude, or his adorable dimples.

When he went to her rescue, James fell in love with this tiny young woman, with hair of midnight and eyes like the sea. Biding his time, he gave her a chance to heal before approaching her.

How can he win the heart of the woman he loves when she won’t even accept an invitation for tea? And if she does become interested, can she accept those things which set his family apart?

I know it has been a while since I’ve posted anything, but life has a way of getting busy. So what’s been happening around here?

Morgan–The Pixie and the Green Man is still waiting for the cover art. With any luck, it’ll be out soon.

In the meantime, it is NaNoWriMo time! I’ve decided to join in the fun and get started on the first sequel to Gambler’s Folly–Dante’s Angel.

You’ll remember Dante from Gambler’s Folly, perhaps. One of Dam’s inner group, he is also the youngest and least experienced. But I loved the idea of giving him his own story.

Ready for an excerpt?

DANTE’S ANGEL

“Nothing to say, Dante?” Karianna asked.

“Nothing.”

“Cat got your tongue?” Angela asked. The lilting, musical tones of her voice drew him like a siren’s song.

The challenge issued with the remark came from behind those beautiful eyes, the color of tiger’s-eye, framed by long, thick lashes, which she fluttered at him.

Of all the responses he could give, none of them seemed appropriate, and one or two of them were downright rude. While her wit wasn’t necessarily at odds with her beauty, the two in conjunction did hamper his thought processes.

“Signorina, when I play with kittens, it is not my tongue which is in danger.”

What had just come out of his mouth? He suddenly wanted to disappear from the face of the planet and he didn’t care where he emerged. She sat with her eyes wide and her mouth open, apparently shocked at his answer.

The table erupted with laughter as the two of them locked gazes. In a moment, she dropped her eyes, tossed her thick tresses over her shoulder and said, “I don’t believe we’ve met. And I’m not sure we should.”

“I see. It’s fine for you to wound a stranger, but not for him to defend himself. I am Dante Bonfiglio, of Speranza on Gambler’s Folly. My family was originally from Sicilia, though this is the first time I have been to Earth. Now we can fence as friends, rather than as strangers.”

Again, she seemed to search for a comeback and simply stared at him. Time to get back to dinner, perhaps. With a nod in her direction he turned back to his plate.

“Dante! It is a first. I can’t remember the last time anyone left Angela speechless,” Damiano exclaimed. “Well done.”

“Speechless? I am not speechless, but I don’t see any point in encouraging such an attitude. Rude!”

“Angela mia,” Signora Leone said, still chuckling. “You were speechless and, if rudeness were a sin, you would be as guilty as Dante. Maybe you’ve finally met your match.”

“I don’t think so, zia Caterina. Never would I be associated with a man as arrogant as he is.”

“You mean like you and the rest of your family?” Damiano added.

“I am not arrogant.”

“Oh? Maybe you are just rude.”

“Damiano, when it comes to rude and arrogant, you take first place.”

“Then you are a close second, cugina. Perhaps Dante is the man to take you in hand.”

“Not in this lifetime.”

How had he managed to get involved in this old family feud? And how had he let his mouth get out of control? He was normally shy, not adding much to conversations. One remark without thinking and he was embroiled in a family dispute, which, though friendly, was a little closer to the family Leone than he cared to be.

“And now who is being rude?” Signora Leone asked. “Maybe this is why you have no boyfriend.”

“Who needs a boyfriend?” the young woman answered.

“Who is always wishing someone would ask her out in the evening?” her aunt countered.

“Fine. Think what you will.”

“Well, there’s nothing like a spat to get a relationship off to a good start,” the signora said with a smile. She reached for the olive oil to season her pasta.

“No!” he and Angela said together, looking daggers across the table. Once again the dining room erupted with mirth.

“This should make for interesting times,” Damiano said, wiping tears from his face.

I’ll keep you posted on my progress. At the moment, I have 22, 828 words written on Dante’s Angel. With a 50,000 word goal for the NaNoWriMo, I should be good. And after the first 50,000, I’ll see how much more it will take to finish it.